The Spy Who's Locked Into the Cold

It's time to release Jonathan Pollard.

When this article was first published three years ago, Jonathan Pollard's lawyers were involved in a final legal initiative that they hoped would lead to his release. That battle was lost last week when the U.S. Supreme Court refused, without comment, to hear Pollard's request to see the classified documents -- including the memo written by ex-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger -- that led to his life sentence.

Without a Presidential pardon, Jonathan Pollard will likely die in prison. This is a crushing defeat not only for Jonathan, but for the whole Jewish People.

In 1995, an American Naval officer named Michael Schwartz (a non-Jew) was arrested and, after confessing, indicted for spying for Saudi Arabia, an American ally. Schwartz's only punishment was discharge from the Navy with the loss of his rank and pension. He never spent a day in prison.

In 1986, Dr. Abdel Kader Helmy was arrested and indicted for passing American ballistic missile secrets and parts to Egypt, which then passed them on to Iraq. Helmy's treachery led directly to Iraq's development of the Condor missile. At the insistence of both the State and the Defense Departments, Helmy was indicted not for espionage, but for "smuggling" restricted technology. Helmy was sentenced to four years in prison, and was released after two years.

In 1987, Clayton Lonetree was convicted of spying for the Soviet Union, an enemy of the U.S. Among other things, Lonetree passed the floor plans of the U.S. embassies in Moscow and Vienna to the Soviets, jeopardizing the lives of all the Americans employed there. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and, after several sentence reductions, was released after 9 years.

In 1985, Jonathan Pollard (a Jew) was arrested for passing classified intelligence information to Israel. He was never tried. At the request of both the U.S. and Israeli governments, he entered into a plea bargain, which spared both governments a potentially embarrassing trial. In violation of the plea agreement, Jonathan Pollard was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that he never be paroled.[1]

On November 21, 2002, Pollard entered the 18th year of his life sentence, with no end in sight.

Since his arrest, Jonathan Pollard has publicly and repeatedly expressed his remorse.
He regrets having broken the law, and is sorry he did not find a legal means to act upon his concerns for Israel.

Pollard's first attorney, Richard Hibey, a non-Jewish lawyer of Lebanese extraction, failed to file a Notice of Appeal, a simple and straightforward task that any attorney would have routinely done. This unheard of failure has forever deprived Pollard of his right to appeal the life sentence he received without benefit of trial.

Contrary to widespread misconceptions, Pollard was never indicted for harming the United States. Pollard was never indicted for compromising codes, agents, or war plans, nor was he accused of nor convicted of treason. Jonathan Pollard was indicted on only one charge: one count of passing classified information to an ally, with no intent to harm the United States. [2]

The median sentence for this offence is two to four years. Jonathan Pollard is the only person in the history of the United States to receive a life sentence for spying for an American ally.

Jonathan Pollard was a civilian American Naval intelligence analyst. In the mid 1980s, he discovered that information vital to Israel's security was being deliberately withheld by the United States. This information included Syrian, Iraqi, Libyan, and Iranian nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare capabilities -- all being developed for use against Israel. According to a 1983 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel, the United States was legally obligated to pass such information on to Israel.

Pollard, an American Zionist, at first pursued legal channels to have this information passed on to Israel. When he asked his superiors why evidence of Iraq's development of nerve and biological gases was not being shared with Israel, he was told, "Jews are too sensitive to gas."

When all American authorities up to the Pentagon refused to relay this intelligence information to Israel, Pollard took it upon himself to do so. The receipt of this information led Israel to revamp its entire civil defense program to include gas masks, sealed rooms, and biological and chemical antidotes.

Pollard's disclosures to Israel were potentially a great embarrassment to the American administration. If made public, they would have proved that not only were the Americans withholding vital security information from Israel, in violation of their agreement, but even more damning, that the United States was covertly aiding and arming Iraq, in hopes that it would overthrow the regime in Iran. This secret aid continued up until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.[3]

The reason, in fact, that the United States had stopped sharing intelligence information about Iraq with Israel was because Israel had used such information to bomb Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981. Angelo Codevilla, who was a Senior Staff Member for the Senate Intelligence Committee from 1978-1985, related in a 1999 interview:

"Bobby Ray Inman, at the time Deputy Director of the CIA, was very angry, and cut off a good chunk of that information flow… I was in the U.S. Intelligence Committee hearing room when Bobby Ray Inman came in and told us how outraged he was that Israel had destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor. He told us that the US was engaged in a ‘sophisticated and very successful effort' to turn Saddam Hussein into a pillar of American foreign policy in the Middle East. The Israelis, in their blundering ways, as he put it, had misunderstood Saddam Hussein. They had figured this nuclear reactor posed a danger of Saddam building nuclear weapons. Our CIA knew better than that, and was outraged that the Israelis had done this. As a result, Inman was unilaterally cutting off the flow of US intelligence to the Israelis."[4]

THE FRAME-UP

A year before Jonathan Pollard was arrested, the spy story that would ultimately doom him started to play itself out in the upper echelons of the CIA. In 1984, Aldrich Ames, who was Chief of Counter Intelligence for the Soviet-East European division of the CIA, was recruited by the Soviet Union to work as a mole. Ames later admitted (in the New York Times and in a televised interview on Sixty Minutes) that he transmitted to the Soviet Union the names of virtually every American and foreign operative in the Soviet Union known to him. A draft of a 400-page classified report, prepared years later under the direction of the CIA's inspector-general Frederick Hitz, would reveal that Ames exposed -- and caused the deaths of -- 34 secret American and allied agents, and identified 55 clandestine American and allied operations to the Soviet Union, thus causing the deaths of many others. [5]

This led to the virtual collapse of the American espionage network in the Soviet Union, a collapse that lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This collapse was a bitter humiliation to the CIA heads in Washington.

The CIA put Aldrich Ames in charge of investigating Pollard for a damage assessment.

Of course, the CIA suspected a mole. To deflect suspicion from himself, Ames searched frantically for a scapegoat. On November 22, 1985, Jonathan Pollard was arrested and charged with spying for Israel. The CIA put Aldrich Ames in charge of investigating Pollard for a damage assessment. Ames began fabricating a secret file that cast blame on Israel for selling to the KGB the data it had received from Pollard. Then Ames leaked to the press allegations that the information Pollard fed Israel included the secret codes for American agents working in the Soviet Union, thus endangering their lives.

Ames also, of course, handed his "findings" about Jonathan Pollard over to the Departments of Defense and Justice, which accepted their veracity without question. Caspar Weinberger was Secretary of Defense at the time. Weinberger was the former vice-president and legal counsel to the Bechtel Group, which conducts a multi-billion dollar business with Arab states.

Just prior to Pollard's sentencing, Weinberger delivered a classified memorandum to the sentencing judge, falsely accusing Pollard of treason [defined as spying for an enemy nation during a time of war] and other serious crimes for which he had never been legally accused nor indicted nor given the opportunity to refute. Pollard and his attorney were allowed to briefly see this document. Since then, neither Pollard nor any of his attorneys, despite their top secret security clearance, have ever been allowed to access the Weinberger memorandum, nor to challenge it in a court of law.

Weinberger declared publicly that if it were up to him, Pollard would have been hanged.

"…it appears that he is being punished for a crime he did not commit and disproportionately punished for the one he did commit."

The sentence of life imprisonment that Pollard received was not for the crime he committed and was charged with -- spying for an American ally, but rather for a crime he did not commit and was never legally charged with -- treason. As Jerome J. Shestack, former President of the American Bar Association, wrote about Pollard: "He was not convicted of treason, although his sentence assumes he was. Thus it appears that he is being punished for a crime he did not commit and disproportionately punished for the one he did commit."

For example, Time's "Inside Washington" column on December 6, 1993, reported: "Time has learned that one document Pollard is believed to have slipped to the Israelis - thought to have landed in Soviet hands - was a huge national security agency compendium of frequencies used by foreign military and intelligence services… Officials fear that data in this book was so specific that its discovery may have cost informants their lives."

Even four years after Ames's confession and conviction, the American media was still pillorying Jonathan Pollard. A CBS news show with Dan Rather as anchor on December 8, 1998, claimed to reveal "new information" leaked to CBS by "official sources" alleging that Jonathan Pollard betrayed US Codes and HUMINT Sources.

Even before Ames was arrested for committing the crimes that the media blamed Pollard for, and certainly thereafter, intelligence experts seriously interested in the truth should have smelled a rat. First of all, most of the data Pollard passed to Israel concerned Soviet weaponry sold to Arab states. Why would the Soviet Union buy from Israel data about their own weapons systems? As a 1994 article put it:

As Jerry Agee, Pollard's superior in Naval Intelligence told [journalist] Wolf Blitzer, Agee and another colleague were suspicious of the number of classified documents Pollard was taking home with him. Eventually they concluded that the information was almost certainly going to Israel. They reasoned that in light of the fact that the materials dealt with Soviet weapons systems and Arab military capabilities, it was not something the Soviets would be interested in.

As Agee put it to Blitzer: "It didn't take a fool to find out that the Soviets were not buying back all their own information." [6]

Secondly, Ames's web of allegations against Pollard assumed that Pollard, a GS-12 security analyst, had access to such top-secret CIA data as the "huge national security agency compendium of frequencies" and the codes of American spies working in the Soviet Union. All intelligence experts knew that Pollard was too low level an analyst to have had any access to such data. As Codevilla pointed out: "Jonathan Pollard could not have provided codes, because he did not have any access to codes. GS-12 analysts don't." [7]

Former Justice Department attorney John Loftus explained: "In order to hide his own espionage for the Russians, Ames successfully pointed the finger of suspicion at Pollard for the spate of serious leaks that crippled U.S. networks inside the Soviet Union." [8]

Loftus went on to say: "Several investigations from CIA and NIS [Naval Investigative Service] have made sheepish admission that Pollard was the victim of hysterical over-reaction." Loftus quoted Naval Intelligence sources as admitting that "90 percent of the things we accused [Pollard] of stealing, he didn't even have access to." [9]

Why, eight years after Aldrich Ames was convicted, is Jonathan Pollard still languishing in prison?

Codevilla, now a Professor of International Relations at Boston University, has asserted: "Judges in the Anglo-Saxon tradition are supposed to write opinions explaining their judgments. Judges are supposed to evaluate the evidence and contrasting arguments provided to them at trials. Judges are not supposed simply to listen to some powerful person whispering in their ear. In the case of this judge, he allowed himself to be used by Weinberger, who lied to him and supplied a false memorandum. I find this behavior by Weinberger to be contemptible, and the judge's behavior to be beneath American standards." [10]

The question which defies all logic and analysis is: Why, eight years after Aldrich Ames was convicted, is Jonathan Pollard still languishing in prison?

THE MITZVAH OF REDEEMING CAPTIVES

There is no greater mitzvah than Pidyon Shevuyim.

Some mitzvot of the Torah are ubiquitous, such as keeping Shabbat and eating kosher food. Other mitzvot cannot be performed at all in our days, such as the mitzvot related to the Temple. Some few mitzvot can be fulfilled only when special circumstances conspire. The mitzvah of Pidyon Shevuyim -- redeeming Jews unfairly held captive -- falls into the last category.

Maimonides wrote: "Pidyon Shevuyim takes precedence over feeding and clothing the destitute; there is no greater mitzvah than Pidyon Shevuyim, for the captive is counted among the hungry and the unclothed, and his very life is endangered. He who turns a blind eye from his redemption transgresses four separate negative commandments, and neglects at least four positive commandments. There is no mitzvah as exalted as Pidyon Shevuyim."

10. "The True Motives behind the Sentencing of Jonathan Pollard," by Whesley PhelanReturn to Text

Sara Yoheved Rigler’s all-encompassing online marriage program, “Choose Connection: How to Revive and Rejuvenate Your Marriage” is available to Aish.com readers at a special price. Click here for more info: http://www.jewishworkshops.com/webinars/connection/

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About the Author

Sara Yoheved Rigler is a popular international lecturer on subjects of Jewish spirituality. She has given lectures and workshops in Israel, England, France, South Africa, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Panama, and over 35 American cities. She is one of the most popular authors on Aish.com, world’s biggest Judaism website, and is a columnist for Ami Magazine. Sara Yoheved Rigler is the author of five best-sellers: Holy Woman; Lights from Jerusalem; Battle Plans: How to Fight the Yetzer Hara (with Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller); G-d Winked; and Heavenprints . She gives a weekly Marriage Webinar for Jewish Workshops on a spiritual approach to marriage, with hundreds of members throughout the world. She lives in the Old City of Jerusalem. Her newest book, Emunah with Love and Chicken Soup, the story of Henny Machlis, the Brooklyn-born girl who became a Jerusalem legend, was was released in November, 2016. Her website is: sararigler.com.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 66

(66)
Anonymous,
January 29, 2014 2:49 AM

Enough!

It's time! Set him free! You've made your example; Mr Pollard does not deserve to die in prison!

(65)
marc,
March 24, 2013 6:30 PM

letter from john loftus

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM JOHN LOFTUS. HE HAS SCENE THE ENTIRE CLASSIFIED FILE.

Atty. John J. Loftus4488 Elkcam Blvd SESt. Petersburg, FL 33705

Dear President Obama,

I am a former federal prosecutor with Q/Cosmic/code word clearances. Ihave personally visited Jonathan Pollard in prison several times and amintimately familiar with his case, including the classified issues. Iam convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that he is truly remorseful forwhat he has done, and deserves to be pardoned, or in the alternative,to have his sentence commuted to time served.

No comparable prisoner in American history has received a sentence ofthis magnitude. Quite frankly, Pollard was a handy receptacle forshifting blame from the intelligence community. As I discovered, Pollardcould not possible have leaked our Soviet Humint assets as he lackedthe necessary blue stripe security clearance to even gain access totheir identities.

Finally, the first damage assessment on Pollard showed that ournational security suffered minimal, if any, damage from Pollard’sdisclosure to Israel. The second damage assessment, prepared with theassistance of Soviet spy Aldridge Ames, intentionally sought to shiftblame towards Pollard and away from Ames. The “blame Pollard” mantra didsubstantial damage to our national security as it allowed Ames and hisco-spy at the FBI to continue funneling our secrets to the Soviets forseveral more years.

It is not necessary to assign blame to one agency or another for thePollard sentencing debacle. It is necessary and just to do the rightthing.

I appreciate Aish's running of this article now. It is time to correct this massive injustice and free Jonathan Pollard now. Especially since the death of Caspar Weinberger (who was actively and aggresively foiling any and all attempts for Jonathans release from prison), the time is now to turn this grave injustice around. Nissan is a month of freedom from enslavement, may this be Jonathans time to come home to his family and to his people.

(63)
Anonymous,
March 31, 2006 12:00 AM

He is still a criminal

The Pollard case is a simple case of somebody violating their sworn lifetime oath never to compromise classified information. Everyone with security signs the same form.

Regardless of his being a Jew or helping Israel or how other convicted spies have been treated, Mr. Pollard violated a sworn oath to secrecy. Had he not broken his vow, he would not be sitting in prison.

(62)
David Zumoff,
March 29, 2006 12:00 AM

Death of Caspar Weinberger

Maybe now that Cap is dead we can get somewhere. This is injustice, and I think that President Bush has not been properly briefed on the unfairness that Mr. Pollard has gone through and what really was at stake. Israel is our staunchest ally in the Middle East. There must be a way to negotiate a settlement and freedom like Mr. Mandela got in South Africa. I think there should be more education and publicity into the matter.

(61)
Jose Pineda,
March 29, 2006 12:00 AM

A spy is a spy is a spy

A spy is a spy ALWAYS.
No matter whom he/she spies for. And it's worse if it's done for money rather than ideology. Even more wrong if its a native spying against his/her own native country, rather than an alien infiltrating.

I believe Aish has gone WAY DOWN if sending a TRAITOR to jail is a "defeat for the whole Jewish people". If some other spies have managed to get out without receiving the punishment they deserved - well, that's terrible in itself. But solution is DOING JUSTICE on everyone. If he has received an unusually large term in prison without legal justification, that's bad. But suggesting him to be released because justice has failed on other spies is rather offensive to me.

(60)
Bonnie, Texas,
March 29, 2006 12:00 AM

A True Ally Should Keep Agreements-Release Pollard

Yes he did deserve punishment but not 20 years or life. The Saudi spies were released so easily. The British would be too. They must be true allies. Since most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia we know what a great ally they are. Reminds me of what the book "The Secret War Against The Jews" was all about. He is a Jew and it was Israel and that matters. Suppose he was an American spy who worked in Israel for the IDF and he found out Mexico had WMD to use against America and he told the CIA because Israel did not as they had agreed to do, would he be a hero for saving American lives? Pollard should be freed as soon as possible as he has served 20 years for a 4-year crime. America should level with Israel and let them know openly they will not always keep their agreements with Israel and any spies caught will be treated worse then other countries. Then there will be honesty in the relationship between the two countries. This is the Dreyfus affair even though Jonathan did the 4-yr crime because the sentence is extreme and he is treated differently then Saudia Arabia or other countries. Only because he is a Jew and it was Israel. There is no other explanation and the vague "he should have been shot" does not cut it as a reason for his treatment. May he be released soon. May a wrong be made right. May America keep its promises to its allies and stand behind its plea agreements and be a true ally. May Israel fight for Pollard. May those who wish him dead not sleep at night. May Pollard be free and return to Israel as his heart knows he should soon and in our day.

(59)
Geela Ehrman,
March 28, 2006 12:00 AM

dear Aish,
i read some of the article about Jonathen Pollard and i sympothize greatly for him what happend is truely unrealistic and unfair many people in this world do things that are not nice but what happend to Jonathen was beyond that if there is a voting that would take place to get him out of jail i would vote him right out meanwhile i will try and daven for him every day-do you have his name by any chance??
-sincerely-
Geela Ehrman

(58)
Yossi,
March 28, 2006 12:00 AM

Great article , but there's evidence that it wasn't a frameup by Ames

Sara's article is moving and disturbing because it means that there are powers and persons in our govt. conspiring against Justice. However, Seymour Hersh wrote an expose of the Pollard affair-
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/576453/posts
If Hersh is right, it means that Pollard SHOULD remain locked up!!!!
Now , Hersh has a reputation for saying controversial and unsubstantiated "facts".
On the other hand, the NEW YORKER published it after diligent review. If he's correct, it renews our faith in the govt. of the U.S.A.,AND makes a very strong case for leaving this poor soul in prison!
It's reassuring to see conspiracies everywhere, but sometimes the truth is what's readily apparent. What to do?
Let us pray that Hashem "return our judges as of old...and take away grief and anguish!"

(57)
Erica,
March 27, 2006 12:00 AM

What next?

So, given that all of this information has come to light, the question that comes to my mind is, what next? Now that the Supreme Court has made it's ruling and the sentence has been handed down, what can we as citizens do now to help?

(56)
margarita,
March 27, 2006 12:00 AM

New on Aish?

New on Aish, that is how this came to me on my e-mail. It is very sad that last coment was posted in20002 and nothing was done to help Mr. Pollard. May be if would preoccupie ourselves a bit less whether liars like Irving should or should not be in jail for the crimes which he did commit, then hopefully we would be able to help Mr. Pollard.

I just hope that he knows that we have not forgotten about him.

(55)
Joe,
March 27, 2006 12:00 AM

I think I'll risk saying something impolotic.

As an American Naval officer, he was duty bound, by oath, (oaths *are* something that the Torah takes seriously) not to reveal state secrets.

Is it true that Washington is deeply inconsistant with how it handles some cases? Yes. Is it true that the Valerie Plame affair has made a mockery of all the honest folks with clearance? Yes. Does this have any relavence on the fact that an American officer spied for another state? NO. Sorry, No.

When I was involved with the Navy, humorless men made it very clear to anyone seeking clearance, that the penalties for such things are very, very severe.

O.K. he is sorry. He still violated his uniform, his country and his honor. Should any of you go and make a "I'm a Jew first argument" I would remind you that suspecting Jews in the military of unsound loyalties is an age old canard of our worst enemies. Those of you that voice such arguments with regard to Pollard are convincing people of *our* as a people's disloyalty.

Should the courts be more lenient in this case? Possibly. But then again, *we* don't have access to the classified memo's either. There have been several administrations who have been less than willing to entertain helping Mr. Pollard. It is almost certain that there is more going on then we know.

But, there is the other big issue that we *do* know. The UCMJ is not particularly lenient on spies. Just because he spied for a state we like is not really an excuse. This article could also have listed all the folks who have been hung or shot for espionage when caught much less red handed.

(54)
TOM,
March 27, 2006 12:00 AM

do the time

As much as I emphathise with Mr Pollard. He has commited treason and he must do the time. As set out in the USA. No matter what the cause, when you get caught spying YOU DO THE TIME.

(53)
roger Starnes,
March 26, 2006 12:00 AM

I will do my share.

We can not give up on Yehonaton ben Malka.

(52)
Anonymous,
March 26, 2006 12:00 AM

The Jewish Establishment and Pollard

The U.S. Jewish Establishment has failed Jonathan Pollard again and again.
The Masters of Interfaith Relations are more scared of being called disloyal to the U.S. than they are scared of G-d.
Everyone reading this article should write to President Bush, asking for an immediate commutation of Pollard's life sentence so that he can emmigrate to Israel.
To the U.S. Jewish Establishment, it isn't good to be TOO Jewish. That embarrases their assimilated little hearts. Su., 3/26/06

(51)
Tom Quittner,
March 26, 2006 12:00 AM

Jewish people should fight for Mr. Pollard

Jewish organizations should take means to fight for reliese of Mr . Pollard

(50)
Anonymous,
March 26, 2006 12:00 AM

and now they use the Pollard case as a precedent re Jews and Israelis

And now the US is not allowing an Israeli software firm to buy an American software firm because it sells software to the pentagon and they use the Pollard case as a reason why Israelis can't be trusted, this while they try to sell our ports to Dubai, military equipment manufacturing to Dubai, and surveillance duties to China. This is an insane world.

(49)
Julius Romanoff,
February 2, 2003 12:00 AM

Why has Pollard's offense never been fully told?

The article is a condemnation of our justice system. There must be a complete investigation of the trial and sentence proclaimed. A murderer convicted to life imprisonment is not subjected to such treatment.
Why did he have a Lebanese attorney? Was he court appointed? The omission of filing a Writ of Appeal should not prevent a review of the trial. After all this time it seems incredible that no one in government has examined the true facts and released the information. The Israeli government has also failed Pollard. They have made futile attempts to get a Presidential parden, but have not pursued it with any explanation for the lack of progress in his defense.
As an American who lived during McCarthy's investigation of suspected Communists, and the Rapp-Coudert investigation of teachers at Brooklyn College accused of being Communists, I know that many innocent individuals suffered from false accusations.
To restore our faith in our way of life the facts in this case must be made public. Enough time has passed that whatever information he is accused of giving to Israel is no longer of any value. Let us ask President Bush to show his compassionate and humanitarian administration by taking action and making the facts known regarding Pollard's treatment.

(48)
Her & Miki SUNSHINE,
January 18, 2003 12:00 AM

An Anerican Dreyfuss case

The shame is not solely America,s -- Israelis conspired to keep Pollard silent.

(47)
Albert Neyfakh,
December 26, 2002 12:00 AM

I wrote a letter "Pollard's Case and Dreyfus' Case: Analogies Are Seen" published (in Russian) on 12/24/98 in "Novoye Russkoye Slovo" ("New Russian Word"), New York, pg. 35.
Unfortunately, nothing has changed during past 4 years.
I still hope to hear about some movement in this terribly shameful case.

(46)
Valerea,
December 17, 2002 12:00 AM

Shocked to the core!

Shalom. Thank you for the privilege of reading this reminder/warning of what is truly happening. How can this be? I felt I was back living mama's life under the Stalin regime. This is an unbelievable horror story, which made me ill and that it could happen in our civilized world of today! All because he is a Jew - in America!! How my heart aches for him and his family! How much longer will this unjust torment go on for him? All I can do is lift him and his family up in prayer that justice and recompense for all those cruel unjust years will be done. Please keep me informed, he must not be forgotten. Thank you.

(45)
Allen Oppenheim,
December 15, 2002 12:00 AM

Excellent, informative and very moving.

Keep up the pressure for his release.

(44)
Anonymous,
December 15, 2002 12:00 AM

Pollard should never have spent a day in prison

Having written about the Intelligence communities in various countries, I strongly believe that Pollard should be freed immediately. Many Intelligence officers have done far worse things and never spent a minute in jail.

(43)
Anonymous,
December 14, 2002 12:00 AM

needs a warning

I think this well-written, well-researched article needs an introduction/warning. It was so painfully graphic that I felt ill and wept for at least 30 minutes afterwards. We all can daven and make other hishtadlus for Mr. Pollard's release, but not all of us can handle vivid descriptions of pain and sadism without a warning of some sort.

(42)
MIKE,
December 13, 2002 12:00 AM

VOICE YOUR OPINION - TO THE PRESIDENT

ANYONE WHO WISHES CAN WRITE TO PRESIDENT BUSH. HIS EMAIL IS.....

PRESIDENT@WHITEHOUSE.GOV
ANY EMAILS ARE READ AND NOTED BY THE WHITEHOUSE STAFF.

HATZLOCHA,

MIKE & DOVID

(41)
Alan M. Kohn,
December 13, 2002 12:00 AM

Your info on Pollard needs wider publication

A Jewish leader in my community whose son works for Navy Intelligence in Washington says that Pollard deserves to die because of the damage he did to our country. I do not believe that this individual or his son have been given the true facts. I do not believe that the American people have been given the true facts. All efforts to get out the truth or even to get at the truth have been inadequate.

(40)
Ina Mehlman,
December 13, 2002 12:00 AM

It's about time....

Jonathan Pollard should have been given no sentence or a very light sentence. What he did was made necessary only by the wrongful actions of our own government. Were they (the U.S. politicos) trying to set Israel up and got blocked in that nasty endeavor by Pollard? He is clearly the victim of a highest level cover-up. I think there is oil at the base of it all.

The extremes taken against Pollard are evidence of something rotten in the U.S. To free him would be the very least that should be done. My rabbi has been leading his own fight toward freeing Pollard from the beginning. I have come to believe that no govenment is above reproach and that ours is to be feared if you get on the wrong side of it.

(39)
Leora Rosen,
December 13, 2002 12:00 AM

some thoughts to ponder

I would like to congratulate Sara on her superb article, and also contribute to the many comments that have been pouring in over the past week. I am glad to see that most people recognize that a serious injustice has been done. But for those who do not, I offer the following thoughts to ponder:
1) No civilized society should mistreat prisoners nomatter what they have done. Even if Mr Pollard were a convicted mass murderer he would be entitled to humane treatment in prison. The fact that he is being denied religious material when others are allowed their Bibles and Korans is a cause for deep concern. It is not just a violation of Mr Pollard's rights, but a delegitimization of Judaism.
2) To those who think they know what Mr Pollard did, I remind you that there was never any finding of fact in the Pollard case. We are being expected to trust the judgement of people that we probably wouldn't buy a used car from. Those Orthodox Jews in the CIA who think they know what Pollard did are unlikely to have direct knowledge of this and are accepting what they have been told by their gentile colleagues.
3) As regards the plea agreement, I would like to point out to readers both in the U.S. and abroad, that these are not trustworthy either. Recently, we found out that five young black men spent up to thirteen years in prison after "confessing" to a brutal rape that it now turns out they did not commit.
Thank you, Sara, once again for having enlightened us all.

(38)
Louis Shankman,
December 12, 2002 12:00 AM

WHY DO YOU NOT START A PETITION TO FREE POLLARD? I'D LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO SIGN IT.

(37)
Patrick Yeboah,
December 12, 2002 12:00 AM

For Heaven's sake, release Jonathan!!!!

Recent events concerning Iraq have vindicated Jonathan. There's no justification for incarcerating him any longer; indeed it is immoral to continue to do so as we send weapon inspectors to "reveal" what he knew about Iraq 18 years ago.

(36)
clarisse pifko,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

a shame for the US judicial system

it's shocking that somebody can be treated in such an inhuman and cruel way in the so called democratic state of the USA. Whatever Jonathan Pollard did - he suffered enough. The way he was treated during these 18 years is a shame for the american judicial and legal system. whoever can help - please help free jonathan pollard immediately.

(35)
Rabbi J.E. Meinhardt,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

I have shared this with my congregation and with several others that are very sympathetic to the causes of Israel and the Jewish people. We would like to make our voice heard for Jonathan Pollard. Can you give us some insight on how to do it? We firmly believe it is time our president does something to rectify this terrible miscarrage of justice.
Rabbi Meinhardt

(34)
Alexander M. Berlin,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

The Mysterie of Jonathan Pollard.

All of us, not having direct access to the reasons why Government act one way or another, obtain our "news" from the mass media. And so we *know* that J. Pollard got a very rough deal, when compared with the punishments meted out to other cases of espionage or similar offenses against the interests of the US.
Meanwhile, Presidents have come and gone, administrations have come and gone, even outlooks and perceptions have changed over the years. Yet Pollard is still behind bars, even with the massive friendships that Israel seems to have in America. The fate of Pollard does not rest in the hands of just one single person. What is there in the *CASE* of Pollard that makes his case so *untouchable*, so eminently unpardonable. Can anyone explain?

(33)
DAVID FRANCES,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

HERE IS THE LETTER THAT I SENT TO THE PRESIDENT

Dear President Bush,

Your honor, I would like to request that you quickly look at the #1 rated Jewish web-site that you may be familiar with already - AISH HATORAH (former President Clinton knew well the organization) at www.aish.com and read the first article about Jonathan Pollard- a Jewish man still held in jail for a crime who's punishment, he has served time and time over.

In your merit of releasing him quickly and speedily, may God grant you a healthy and blessed life. Your efforts to release Jonathan will go along way in showing the world that clemency and justice go hand in hand.

Sincerely,

David Frances

(32)
Gloria,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

Amazing and tragic!

This article needs to get into the hands of President Bush. I believe he is a humane and kind man and perhaps he can do something to right this terrible wrong.

(31)
Anonymous,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

Justice?

There are no words that can describe my disbelief with this injustice towards Mr. Pollard!

(30)
lea dror,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

dispicable

what can be done to help

(29)
Anonymous,
December 11, 2002 12:00 AM

Enlighting

I never knew the full story, just bits and pieces along the way. His whole story is a story of long golus that we are in, although I think his imprisonment is the worst of any Jew before him. At least it is THE worst story that I've ever heard. I mention him every time I say Tehillim. Only Hashem can free him at this point.

(28)
Roger Walkwitz,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

Excellent article and summary.

I intend to duplicate and send to many influencial people...and PRAY for Jonathan's release.

(27)
kohokid,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

help fathers

as a father that cannot see his keeps on the prejudice court system
THIS MAN NEEDS TO BE FREED NOW!
BC:)

(26)
Menashe (Max) Kaltmann,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

It's time for Jonathan Pollard to be released!

Thank you for your timely article.
I have the incredible priviledge of being the Director of Beit Sohar Jewish Chaplaincy Services the organisation that visits Jewish men and women in prison here in Melbourne, and in the State of Victoria, Australia.

Jonathan Jay Pollard did the wrong thing but has been more than punished.
The fact that he has served 18 hard and long years many of them in a mental institution shows that the punishment does not fit the crime.He has served more than his time for the offence he did.

Many years ago I wrote to Jonathan and was pleased to receive a beautiful response. Jonthan conveyed his sincere remorse for his actions. Every time I thing of his terrible plight I cringe.
Enough is enough. Pollard has been punished. Please whoever reads this help especially if you are an American citizen.

(25)
Kenneth R. Handschuh,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

This article should be read by every federal official including Presedent Bush and Mr Pollard should be pardoned and apologised to.

(24)
Richard Miller,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

Jonathan Pollard

Is justice being served by keeping Jonathan Pollard in jail? We can only know the answer to this question when all the facts surrounding the resaons for his incarceration are revealed.

(23)
Anonymous,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

Re-awakening

Please, please, please publish this article where it can be read by the massses (i.e. like the ADL did in the Sunday New York Times). This article inspires activism that so many people would want to be involved in.

Unlike the Dreyfus Case, Pollard did actually commit a crime, but where is our public outcry against this miscarriage of justice, where is our, "J'accuse!"?

(21)
Justine,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

I am sick that the last 3 presidents haven't had the guts to right this wrong.
Something has to be done so this family can make alliyah and live in safety.
What does Pollard know that is such a threat to America if he gets out &/or tells the rest of the story?

(20)
Joel Benjamin,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

Extraordinarily well-written article

I have have followed the Pollard case closed for many years and this is the best article I have read about Pollard's harsh treatment.

This case has many frightening implications about U.S. society, its justice system, its racial prejudice, and the failure of its news media.

If this had happened elsewhere, we would be appalled at how primitive are the civil liberty protections in such a society and how much political power influences news reporting.

The handling of the Pollard case is one index to the corruption of our society. Only when the truth in this case is allowed to come to light, can our society be healed.

(19)
Anonymous,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

well done for doing something

well done for getting down and doing something about this poor man. may we all work together to attain his release from hell.

(18)
Catrina Stroud,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

A gross miscarriage of justice.

What a gross miscarriage of justice! And what an appalling commentary on the American legal system! The treatment of Jonathan Pollard in prison amounts to judicial murder by proxy. It is a horror story of the new American gulag. There will be,unfortunately, more of them with the passage of the USA-PATRIOT and the Homeland Security Act. As well as the longstanding corruption of our unaccountable secret agencies, it serves to highlight the corruption of both Bush administrations-with their subservience to Big Oil. Clearly the toleration for his continuing mistreatment and the tacit (if not explicit!) approval of it comes straight from the top. Let's do everything possible to liberate this prisoner of conscience from the American gulag!

(17)
J.S. Fischer,
December 10, 2002 12:00 AM

I, an American citizen, am ashamed of the judicial and penal systems in the U.S.

I am appalled at the inhumane treatment this man has received at the hands of the Americans. We are all lesser individuals because this has been allowed to go on for so long. Shame on all of us!

(16)
julia,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

While I believe Pollard deserved to have some punishment for what he did(even though I love Israel)enough is enough.The overt and covert antisemetism that permeates the Us intelligence community and to a lesser extent the military is abhorrent to me.I am observant and served in the US military in an intelligence position.I am very proud of that service and of my country but when you are wrong you are wrong.I didn't realize the full extent of what occurred.Thank you for telling the whole story.

(15)
betti miner,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

appalling!!!!

I wish for justice for Jonathan Pollard. The men who should be in prison for the rest of their lives are breathing free air. Caspar Weinberger is a perfect example of a liar who would not know the truth if it sneaked upon him, and Ames, he is a traitor who should never have been released, his wife at the time dumped him as she needed someone who was not a liar and who was nice and warm in jail and got plenty to eat. Both these traitors should be stripped of their US citizenship and given a one-way ticket to the coldest place, Antartica. Release Jonathan and let him go home to Israel where he belongs with Esther. We Jews DO have to care for one another. Jonathan has been treated worse than a dog and May HaShem give him strength to go on. Thank you Sara for a great article!!!!

(14)
Ms Ray Walker,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

Re: Article on Jonathan Pollard

What happened to Jonathan Pollard is obscene. What the American government has done to him is obscene. He is suffering for all Jews, in his own Holocaust. The system that has imprisoned him is antisemitic, the Jews that condemn him are antisemitic. What they did to Dreyfus is tame compared to what they are doing to Pollard. Everyone who took part in his suffering should pay a price from the high officials to those who guard him with such viciousness.

(13)
Anonymous,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

Shocked!

I cannot believe that such can hapen today in the well civilized USA!
My heart goes out to Jonathan and hope for his speedy redemption.

(12)
Eliyahu,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

If these facts are so concrete, why has this man been in jail for 18 yrs?

Believe it or not, I have just recently learned about J. Pollard's ordeal. I had heard the name and more or less what the "story" was about, but I did not know the details. In any case, why is it that with all the information that is out about this case, including statements from judges rendering it "a fundamental miscarrige of justice", that there is nothing that can be done?
How could it be that in the most "democratic" country in the world such a situation is permitted? Wasn't there a signed plea agreement? Doesn't the plea agreement clearly state the conditions of sentencing? Besides, I am sure there is a sentencing guidline regardless of a plea or not. I am not a lawyer and therefore do not know what the guidlines would be, but I assume that for such a charge a life sentence without the possiblity of parole is cruel and unusal punishment. What can I do to help? I would appreciate a response.

Thank you,

A concerned human being that happens to be Jewish

(11)
Anonymous,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

I'm truly shocked over the revelation this article has given me. The punishment of Jonathan Pollard is an incredibly injustice, and it is hard to not take it personally. The whole case reeks of anti-semitism... an arab caught spying gets deported... but a Jew? Give them the most extreme punishment possible. It makes it extremely hard for one to have faith in their government. I'm beginning to see the neccessity of Israel much more clearly. We have to look out for each other, for no one else will.

(10)
David Kerner,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

Song I composed about Jonathan Pollard

Justice Denied

lyrics (c) by David Kerner
music (c) by David and Steve Kerner
www.HonorableMentchen.com

Jonathan Pollard sits in a cell, what are we doing about it?
Tefilah for sure, but we've got to do more, we've got to stand on the rooftops and shout it!
"Justice, justice you shall pursue," but there's tears 'neath the Holy Throne,
Never even had a trial, now he's deep in exile,
Shackled, silenced, alone...

Chorus:
Jonathan!
Am Yisrael so close to your heart,
Jonathan!
You can be free if we all do our part.

Day in and day out, in his office he'd sit, holding the keys to saving millions of lives,
"You've got to keep it to yourself, no you can't do a thing," you know their words,
they cut him like knives.
Well "friends" that's the word that can best describe, our two great countries,
But in a case like this, with friends like these, who really needs enemies...

Chorus

Well, the Gulf War came and soon the bombs would rain, but you know we were prepared,
As in days before, spreading blood by the door, awaiting the wonders that we all would share.

We knew what to expect, we had a peak in the deck, because the deed was done,
If it was Esav's hand it was Yakov takin' his stand, you know there's nothing new under the sun.

Bridge
"If you admit your guilt, then we'll go easy with you"
And he believed every word they told him.
But now he's buried away, never see the light of day
It was just a bill of goods they sold him...

Chorus

Whether he was right or wrong, we could talk on and on, and in the end who really could tell?
But the point right here, and the records quite clear, he's spent much to long in that cell.
So sharpen your pencils, crank up your phones and plug in those fax machines,
We can't be only for ourselves, our brother's crying for help, we've got to snap out of our dreams

Chorus

(9)
Larry Stein,
December 9, 2002 12:00 AM

Not as Simple As It Looks

Mrs. Rigler has done an excellent job of bringing this crucial situation to light once again.

However, I must take issue with something. I have many Orthodox Jewish friends who work for the CIA, NSA, and other areas in the Department of Defense. Interestingly enough, whenever I bring up the Pollard situation, the unanimous response is, "He is lucky he was not executed like he deserved." I press further for details, and am told that the information is classified and they can't share more. "However," they tell me, "the public does not fully understand and is not aware of the extent of the damage Pollard caused the United States and Israel through his actions."

This is not the opinion of one person. This is the opinion of several intelligent, Orthodox Jews, who have access to information that you, I, and the general public DO NOT HAVE, and the response is unanimous. Pollard is lucky he was not executed. Why? I don't know the answer, but those that do seem to feel that his sentence is justified.

In conclusion, I simply want to let you know that the situation is much more involved than you and I suspect. We are only seeing a few pieces of the puzzle and therefore cannot honestly say that Pollard deserves to be treated differently.

AUTHOR RESPONDS:

The only defense the anti-Jonathan Pollard parties have is that there are deep, dark secrets which cannot be revealed, even to Jonthan Pollard and his lawyers, which, if we knew them, we would appreciate why he was sentenced to life in prison.

This argument is worthy of the KGB, not of the government of the world's biggest democracy. The American constitution guarantees its citizens a fair trial, with the opportunity to refute the charges brought against them. None of these allegations of the tremendous harm Jonathan Pollard supposedly did to the United States have ever been made in a court of law
where Jonathan Pollard could challenge them. His attorneys have filed numbers legal suits seeking access to the documents that these "intelligence sources" keep citing as their "proof" that Pollard got the sentence he deserved.
Sentencing a man to life on the basis of secret evidence that neither he
nor his attorneys are permitted to see nor challenge in a court of law is
simply not consistent with the American Constitution's guarantee of
equal justice for all before the law, and the right of every American to
confront his accusers in a court of law.

(8)
Bernice Sandbrand,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

It is very sad how they have treated Mr. Pollard

Icant under stand how they can treat him this way and not let this poor man have peace and be FREE

(7)
Anonymous,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Excellent article.

A chilling description of what is occuring on our own doorstep to Jewish people. Very well documented, and a lot of info I did not know about.

(6)
Anonymous,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

i am so appalled that we have let this go on for 18 years. yasher koach to sara rigler for writing this article. may her efforts merit to free jonathan pollard quickly.

(5)
Tina,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Israel

Israel needs to interceed on his behalf.

(4)
David Frost,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Let him rot!

There are enough Jews who have been unjustly victimized over whom we may shed tears. The facts about Pollard are quite simple-- he was given a position of trust and confidence by the United States. He swore to defend U.S. interests (not redefine them), and promised to protect classified information. He then betrayed that trust and sold (for cash, not for principle!) highly classified information to a foreign power. Let's not make him out to be a hero or a martyr-- he's a liar and a traitor (and nowhere near as repentant as suggested in Ms. Rigler's article). As to his sad stories about his supposed mistreatment, why should we believe them? We already know that this man can't be trusted. If, in fact, the government is mistreating him while he's in prison, and if he's spending more time in prison than some other spies, well, he could have avoided that by not breaking the law.

It is an insult to Torah to suggest that pidyon shevuyim applies to Pollard. He is a disgrace to every Jew who ever loyally served the United States, and he ought to stay in jail and think about what he did for a few more decades.

(3)
maurice salomon,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Jonathan's full hebrew name for praying purposes

My compliments to Sara Rigler for her important article on Jonathan Pollard. I would kindly suggest that Jonathan's hebrew name(s) and that of his mother be made available, so that everyone could pray for Jonathan every day. Thank you.

(2)
AL COLLINS,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

PUNISHMENT

ALL PERSONS CONVICTED OF SPYING AGAINEST THE UNITED STATES SHOULD RECEIVE LIFE IMPRISONMENT. UNTIL RECENTLY BEFORE I CHANGED MY MIND ON THE DEATH PENALITY I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM ALL SHOT. WHAT MAKES POLLARD CASE SO BAD WAS HE SPIED FOR A SO CALLED FRIEND OF THE US. I AM BEGINING TO BELIEVE THAT THE HOLOCAUST HAS WARPED THE JEWISH PERSPECTIVE SO BADLY THAT THEY TRUST NO ONE. WITHOUT TRUST HOW WILL YOU EVER HAVE A FRIEND OR WORSE BE ONE. WHEN FRIENDS BETRAY YOU IT REALLY HURTS, AND IT HURT MANY OF US AMERICANS. WE EXPECTED BETTER FROM ISRAEL. FROM OUR ENEMIES SPYING IS EXPECTED. NEXT TIME YOU WANT INFORMATION, ASK. IF IT IS DENIED TRUST THAT YOUR FRIENDS HAVE THEIR REASONS AND JUST LIVE WITH IT. WE WILL GIVE YOU THE SAME COURTESY. AS FOR POLLARD HE STAYS IN JAIL. AL COLLINS

AUTHOR RESPONDS
An answer to Al Collins For your information, twice since Jonathan Pollard's conviction Israel has caught American spies operating in Israel (or should I say "against Israel"). If, as you say, friends are not supposed to spy on each other, why does the US have spies operating in Israel?
What did Israel do to these American spies? Try them? Imprison them? NO! Israel quietly sent them back to America. With no apologies from the U.S.
Sara Rigler

(1)
Sidney Alekman,
December 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Plight of the faithful.

Why isn't Israel insisting on Pollard's commutation? Mr. Pollard has been in prison for 18 years, and counting, because of his concern for Israel - what has Israel done to help his cause? Why hasn't Israel gone public with its concern for Jonathan - assuming the Israeli government has any concerns for his welfare? Why isn't Jonathan Pollard on the agenda for any meeting the Israeli PM has with high-ranking Americans? etc etc

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!